Filling valve for sirupers



April 8, 1930. A. R. THOMPSON FILLING VALVE FOR SIRUPERS Filed May 17. 192.7

I N VEN TOR. 7 .ZM- lm B Y Patented 'Apr'. 8, 1930 UNITED`l STATES .PATENT oFFlcE maar a. THOMPSON, or aan Joan, cemromru, Assioma ro ,manson-mnonovna-m'e. co., or sur Joer., aannemen., a oonroaarron or camu-onu.

FILLING FORI BIBUPEBS Application med ley 17,

My invention relates, in general, to liquid filling-valves especially those adapted for' siruplng machines used in the canning art, and, in particular, to that type of valve comprising a can-seating member; and an asso ciated inverted dish-shaped member which enters the can as the latter is raised to and lifts the seating `member to open the valve to the ow of sirup.

The object of my invention is to simplify the valve in its structure and to render it more eiiicient, accurate, certain and speedier in operation.

To this end my invention comprises a canseating member formed with a centrall i ported, downwardly extending inverte dish-shaped can-entering hub; a yieldable body-member carrying said seating member and communicating with its hub port, said .o body member also communicating with the source of sirup supply; an apertured valve head controlling said hub port, and having an air venting stem leading from the apex of the cavity of the dish-shaped hub to the exterior; and'means in association with said stem for producing a vacuum therein.`

In the accompanying drawings, my im-` proved valve is illustrated in its preferred form, it being` understood that changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims hereunto appended.

'Fig. 1 is a vertical section-of my valve showing its closed position, with a can just reaching the seating member.

Fig. 2 is a similar section showing the valve opened by the elevation of the can.

1 indicates a tank in which the sirup is contained. 2 is a spider-coupling screwed into the tank bottom, the spaces 2 between the spider arms forming outlets for the sirup from the tank. 3 is an expansible and contractible body member secured above to the coupling 2 and communicating through the spaces 2 thereof withthe tank interior. The

from.

1987. Serial lo. 192,078.

tended downwardly and having an inverted dish shape. The hub 4 is centrally ported at 4" registering with the opening 3l in the base plate 3'L of the-body member 3. The port 4* is controlled :from its under side by an apertured valve head 5, carried by a stem `6 which passes u through the body member 3, and through t e hub 2b of the spider coupling 2 which serves as a steadying guide for it. The stem 6 is a hollow one with a through bore opening below through ,the valve head 5 into the apex of the concavity of the can entering hub 4", and said stem extends upwardly through the tank 1 to the exterior. With the upper end of the stem 6 is associated either directly or indirectly a means for producing a vacuum in said stem. One form of such means and association is here shown as' a vacuum pump 7. Sis a can, supported on a table 9 having a foot-roller 10 which travels on a cam-track 11, these parts being herein shown as typical of a means for elevating the can to the valve and removing it there- The operation of the valve is as follows The normal closed position, shown in Fig. l, is due to the expansion of the body member 3 holding the can-rubber 4 down upon the valve head 5, thus cutting off the passage of the siru from the tank. When li ed into contact with the rubber 4, the can is closed and the hub 4 is entered into the can a predetermined distance which,

as is common in the general typeof valve, l

defines the volume of siru to be left in the can, the concavity of the ub also functioning, as usual, as a spa'ce within which the more solid contents of the can may rise without injury.

As the can is elevated still more, as in Fig. 2, it raises the can rubber 4, the body member 3 collapsing, and said can rubber lifts away from the valve head 5, thus opening communication for the passage of the sirup through the axis of the device, centrally into the can.

During the continuance of this open position, the sirup fills the can to its top around the hub4; it also fills the hub cavity and rises in the stem 6, seeking its general level. During this lling of the can, the air passes out through the stem 6, and in case the pump 7 -be running continuously, the suction will assist the escape of the air.

As soon as the can is filled as described above, it is lowered to its initial position. The first part of this movement, which brings the parts to the positions shown in Fig. 1, results in the closing of the liquid port 4h by the valve 5, thus cutting o the flow of liquid, this action being caused by the expansion of the body member 3 which causes the can rubber 4 to remain seated upon the rim of the can and follow it downward until arrested by the valve 5.

The can, however, continues to descend until its rim is below the bottom of the hub 4a, so that it can be removed. When the rim of the can first leaves the surface of the rubber 4, atmospheric air is admitted, and the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the lowered pressure or suction in the hollow valve stem 6 causes the liquid to descend in the can around the outside of the hub 4l and to rise through said stem. This action continues until the level of the liquid outside said hub reaches the bottom thereof, whereupon the liquid seal is broken and air enters the suction tube 6. A certain quantity of liquid, predetermined by the size of the hub 4a, is thus drawn out of the can, reducing its level to the desired point.

The action of the suction, which may be either continuous or intermittent in timely relation to the movement of the can, not only reduces the liquid remaining in the can by a predetermined amount, but prevents spilling around the rim of the can as it leaves the rubber 4, and also prevents drip from the vent tube or stem 6 by withdrawing all the liquid therefrom. By the dish shape of the hub 4a provision is made as usual for the rise of the solid can contents into the hub cavity.

I claim 1. A liquid filling valve comprising a hollow compressible and expansible metallic body member titte-d to a source of liquid vsupply; an underlying ported seating member carried by said body member by the compression and expansion thereof; an apertured ber carried by said body member, having adownwardly projecting, ported inverted, dish-shaped hub; an apertured valve head,

,controlling the port of said hub; and an air vent stem carrying the valve head.

3. A liquid filling valve comprising a hollow resilient body member with openings in its axis above and below; a ported coupling for connecting said body member in communicative relation with a source of liquid supply; an underlying seating member carried by said body member, having an aperture aligned with the bottom opening of said body member; an apertured valve-head controlling said seating member aperture; and an air vent stem carrying said valve head.

4. A liquid filling valve comprising a hollow resilient body member with openings in its axis tabove and below; a ported coupling for connecting said body 'member in communicative relation with a source of liquid supply; an underlyingeseating member carried by said body mem r, having a downwardly projecting inverted, dish-shaped hub with an aperture aligned with the bottom opening of said body member; an apertured valve-head controlling said apertured hub; and an air vent stem carrying said valve head and leading out through the body member to the exter1or.

' 5.` A liquid filling valve comprising a yieldable body member fitted to a source of liquid supply; an underlying seating member carried by said `body member having a downwardly projecting, ported, inverted dishshaped hub; an apertured valve-head controlling the port of said hub'to open and close it by the yielding of said body member; an air vent stem carrying said valve head; and means in association Iwith said stem for producing a partial vacuum therein.

6. A liquid filling valve comprising a body member fitted to a source of liquid supply; an underlying seating -member carried by said body member, having a downwardly projecting, ported inverted, dish-shaped hub adapted to enter the container to be filled; an apertured valve head, controlling the port of said hub; an air vent stem carrying said valve head; and means in association with said stem for producing a partial vacuum therein.

7. A liquid filling valve comprising a hollow resilient body member with openings in its axis above and below; a ported coupling for connecting said body member in communicative relation with a source of liquid supply; an underlying seating member carried by said body member, having a downwardly projecting inverted, dish-shaped hub with an aperture aligned with the body opening of said body member; an apertured valve-head controlling said apertured hub; an air vent stem carrying said Valve head `andleading out through the body member to the exterior; and means associated With said stem for producing a partial vacuum therein.

8. A liquid filling valve comprising a hollow compressible 'and expansible member fitted to a source of liquid supply, said member comprising peripherally closed opposing metallic disks, a ported seating face carried by said member adapted for Contact with the container to be filled; `sind a valve member adapted to control the port of said seating face by the compression and expansion of said member. i

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

